The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has announced that A1 No. 60163 ‘Tornado’ has clocked up 100,000 miles since completion.

The milestone was reached near Pickering, on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, on Sunday 11th March 2018.

Tornado was completed at Darlington Works, in 2008. Ever since completion, the locomotive has been seen in service on the National Rail network and at heritage railways across the UK. Highlights include hauling three Royal Trains including the naming by TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall in February 2009. The locomotive has also featured in BBC’s Top Gear ‘Race to the North’ with Jeremy Clarkson on the footplate.

The locomotive has also featured in Paddington 2: The Movie, as well as hauling Northern’s Plandampf services.

Tornado is set to star at the Severn Valley Railway Spring Steam Gala this weekend.

What did the officials say?

Mark Allatt, Trustee, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “This summer Tornado is celebrating her 10th birthday and remains the only new mainline steam locomotive to be completed in Britain since 1960 despite over 20 standard gauge new build projects being launched. Tornado’s first 100,000 miles have seen the locomotive cris-cross Great Britain, a testimony to those supporters who stuck with the project over the 18 years that it took to fundraise and build – ‘This locomotive was built and paid for by people who shared a vision and were determined to turn it into reality’.”

Graeme Bunker-James, Operations Director added, “Keeping Tornado on the Network Rail main line is expensive and time-consuming and so the Trust is always seeking new supporters and volunteers to come on board. This year will see both the 10th anniversary of Tornado’s completion and the 100thanniversary of the RAF’s formation and we will be seeking to mark both milestones in an appropriate manner – watch this space!”

• Visit the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust website
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